Vegetable peeling machine including traveling screw driven cutters



E. J, ANDERSON VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE INCLUDING TRAVELING SCREW DRIVEN CUTTERS Feb; 8', 1949.

Filed Nov. 20, 1944 4 SheetSSheet 1 INVENTOR. Edwpnc/T find arson ATTD R N EYS Feb. 8, 1949. E. J. ANDERSON VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE INCLUDING TRAVELING SCREW DRIVEN CUTTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1944 v v m\. mm M Nm 3 -II wk m NM 6 f n b mm X v Q N-N\ n mN is en km a I II ww mm b RN @N 9 Q um i .3 .3 Q has J NH m 9m E 3 N a 9w .N wn

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Feb. 8, 1949. E. J. ANDERSON VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE INCLUDING TRAVELING SCREW DRIVEN CUTTERS 4 Sheeis-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Edw Ln (Iflnderson I Filed Nov. 20, 1944 ATTDR N EYS E. J. ANDERSON VEGETABLE FEELING MACHINE INCLUDING TRAVELING SCREW DRIVEN CUTTERS Feb. 8, 1949.

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 20, 1944 INVENTOR. Edw vn cZflnderson/ Patented Feb. 8, 1949 VEGETABLE PEELING MACHINE INCLUDING TRAVELING SCREW DRIVEN CUTTERS Edwin J. Anderson, Aurora, Ill.

Application November 20, 1944, Serial No. 564,233

3 Claims.

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with improvements in vegetable peeling machines, and more particularly, it is my purpose to provide a machine of this character having simple, prompt and effective means for coupling and uncoupling operating parts to start and stop the machine, and also to provide means for automatically uncoupling the operating parts when the peeling element reaches the end of its stroke.

A further, and equally important, object of my invention is to provide a novel and unique peeling element which is sensitive to the various curvatures of the surface of a vegetable, such as a potato, and which will automatically adjust itself to elevations and declivities and the like to the end that a uniform and economical peeling is removed, and a minimum of surfaces of the vegetable skipped. To this end, my peeling element is not only provided with an improved knife, but

a support for the knife, which is capable of automatic adjusting movement, about both horizontal, and vertical centers to present the cutting edge to a vegetable irrespective of vagaries in the shape and form of the vegetable, and spring means for urging the cutting edge toward the vegetable irrespective of the position of the edge.

Another, and important, object of my invention is to provide improved means for grasping and rotating a vegetable. such as a potato, in the most desirable position with respect to a peeling element, and at the same time move the peeling element to sever a peel ng from the whole surface of the vegetable economically and effectively.

In addition to the above objects and advantages, my invention is designed to have relatively few operat ng parts, and those of sturdy construction and positive action, and to be easilycleaned and cared for. Other important objects and ad vantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but changes in form;

size, shape, proportion. construction and arrangement of parts are permissible provided they fall 2 Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure l; V

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of my peeling element;

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of my peeling element;

Figure 9 is a bottom view of my peeling element,

the general relationship of which to other parts is shown in Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a section through Ill-400i Figure 18 of my peeling element, a vegetable being shown parts throughout the several views:

The numerals I and 2 designate supporting frames or standards which are of plate-likeconstruction and have foot flanges 3. Between the frames are the rods 4, 5, 6 and I, each of which has an annular shoulder 8 against which the frames are held by nuts 9. 1 On the rods 4 and 5 is slidably mounted a peeling element carriage I0.-

The carriage ID has a narrow rear-part II and a relatively wide front part I2 provided each with,

a sleeve-like mounting I3 through which rods 4 and 5 extend, and a thin flat web I4. Mounted for pivoting movement between the frames I and 2 is a shaft I5 to which are fixed byset screws I6, or the like, supporting brackets I I and I8; these supporting brackets are adjacent and inside of frames I and 2 respectively, and bracket I 8 has formed thereon an upstanding arm I9. I J ournaled in brackets I1 and I8 is a threaded shaft or lead screw 20 carrying pinions 2| at itsends outside of the frames I and 2. Frames l andZ are formed with slightly elongated slots 22 so that some movement of threaded shaft 20 is permitted.

As shown in Figure 1, the carriage I I] has a depending arm 23 witha traveler or dog 24 engaging the threadsof the threaded shaft or lead screw 20. Relatively mounted on bearings 25 on .frames I and 2 are pinions 26 and 21; through the bearings 25 of which are mounted axially opposed and aligned arbors or shafts 28 and 29; the arbor or shaft 28 is relatively short and attached to pinion 26, and arbor or shaft 29 is keyed as at 30 for sliding movement through pinion 2! and driven thereby and is relatively long so that the space between the ends of the shafts can be adjusted. Onthe end of each shaft is a vegetable engaging head 3| of suitable form and is a section through II-II of Figure I motor/46':

configuration and which may have ribs or teeth ESIA to prevent slipping of a vegetable therebetween. A vegetable A is shown in dotted lines. On the arbor or shaft 29 is a spring 32 which exerts its pressure to urge shaft 29 toward shaft 5 28 and shaft 29 is extended out a considerable distance as at 33 past the frame 2.

Mountedron,thecarriage l0 aretwopairs of.,. spaced aligned flanged-rollers 34, each pair havinga keeper 3.: or guard to render stability. Mounted to slide between and in contact with the rollers, i and extending transversely of the carriage is a bar 36 which is rectangular*ingcrossfsection; It will be noted the flanges of rollerst l extend' under and over the bar to support the same. The 151;.

bar is tapered at the front end as at 3i and carries the peeling element 38. Aspiral-spri-zig 39"- on the bar 36 and connected at its free' ends 46 to the carriage i9 normally urges the bar 38 andpeeling .elementi38 forward toward the .vegetable holders or heads 3| withinbtheylimitfldefined. by, the,stop. pind li engaging.. .the rear edge of the carriage.

Asiheretofore stated, threaded shaftor lead screw 2ll 'carries pinions 2 I Pinion 21 at 'the'rig'ht 25 side. of the machine.-see Figures 1, 2. and 3- meshes with a diiveugear $2 fixedto adrive pulley, lSrotatingf'reely "on the protruding end .of shaft I5. andmarrying abeltv 45 to a suitable electric Referring now to both ends of'the machine-see Figures 1, 2', 3' and l-pinions 2i also. mesh withiidler pinions 41 whichiin tiirn mesh'with pinions 26and"2'l"on shafts or arbors 28 and-29r Accordingly, the.shafts.2i8.andl29, and the threadedshaft' or lead screw 25 are drivenirom, drive gear 42x and. motor 45;, and since'the carriage lflThasit'sidog ortraveler. 2t in engagement with threadedshaftlorllead screw 2t, the vegetable A'is rotatedat thesame time the peelingelementtfl is fed? across the machine 40 in contact wtihthe vegetable to, removethe skint However, as. has: been previously, mentioned; theishaftfl 5 supports the threaded fshaft' or; lead screw 2051037 brackets?! and"l8"for:limited pivot ingjmovement. Pinions ill being attachedjto ibis pivot? shaft 20" move into; and out of. engage: mentwith 'thezdriven'lidlers Alt-hereby to ro'tate ornotrotate-shafts or arbors ZBandZB-x Also; the 'leadscrew or-threaded shaft "20is'm'oved; out of, or'into, engagement with thedog'or traveler 2.4to actuate orrelease theicarria'gei lll carrying; the peelingelment-GBF Thedottedline-positionsi" of pinions 2i andshaft or'lead' 'screw'ill inFigures'.

An'operating'leverflflis pivoted at lesecuredt *berlfl' ls'milled back; at 38' inFigure 11, to me sent'the advance cutting portion of blade I3. The bottomside-*ofthe blade 13 is notched at13' to permitthisside 'ofthe blade 18 to penetrate whilewhich is connected by a short link 55* to the longestfil'bf two pivotallyg-connected-links 51 and 58'; the shortesti-EG-of which-"ispivotallitconnectedto'upstandingarm I9 -see Figures 1' and" 5 a's at 593 Accordingly;- when'the-lever 481s" moved to the right to the'd'otted line position of Figure-2 the link' 54"is' moved=slightly to'theleftbowingjnwardIv-links 51 and =58 and moving I The foregoing drive elements are normally held disengaged by spring 611 connected with bracket I8 and the support SI for link 51 on rod s. An automatic stop mechanism-see Figures 2 and 5includes a pivoted angular arm 62 carrying a pin 63 which is engaged by the carriage II] at the limit of its movement to the right to cause the linksfi'l and 58 to be moved off of the full line dead-center positionzaof Figure 2 toward frame 2, to uncouple the gears 2i from the idlers il under the influence of spring Si acting through arm l9. Spring 68 is of sufficient strength to fully uncouple-the elements after dead right center is passed: Aspringtension cable or tape Fit-with adjustinggkey;;65-attached to carriage ill as at E5 and to the bracket 66 on frame I returns the carriagedll to its normal starting position. A slantingrfloor Bl beneath the peeling element carries peelings forward to aisuitable refuse basket (not shown).

The'movement'oflever4B to the*left"slides shaft 29 back against the pressure of spring 32 'to release a/ vegetable-such as a potato-from betweenthevegetableengaging-'means 3Ia or to permit'the positioning ofa vegetable therebe tween tdbepeeled. Since'the lever 48 must-first overcome the' acti'on of the-spring 32, a quick movementof the'lever 48 to the'right will first move the links 5'! 1 and 58 'oil T dead centerto 'un'--' couple gears 2! from idlrs' lTpermitting thecarriage I ll to'hereturned 'to its starting position.

Reierring'now especiaily'to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, Hand 12?:wherei1i-the details'ofmy peeling element are-illustrated; it is emphasized" that the peelingjel'ement constitutes one of the most important ofthe many featuresof'my invention. The' peelingelement'includes a frame 68 comprisingaplatform-BB and side members '10. The platform-69 is'pivotally'attached by a screw II to the end 3! of bar BB "to pivot in a horizontal plane,

andfthe side members 10 are pivotally' connectedas' at 12* On the platform topivot on a' vertical plane: Si'd members T0 and 'H'I'have integrally formed thereon" and extending therebetween a blade13androtatably mounted on ashaft T4 attheir upperends isaiguideroller 15. A spring 16 connected with" shaft '14 and platform 69 norma ly tilts-side'members'lfl and I0 (and the roller J5)" hackwardly-and the blade I3'forwardly (see' 'Figure 12')" to hold the 1 blade in proper position preparatory to-peeling the vegetable A; with the roller acting as a-depthgauge-like device fol owing thesurface of'the-vegetable'to properly posi-- tionthe'blade. It will be" noted that the side mem peeling: The-opposite'side member Ill terminates slightly 'above-theiblade 13, as'at 38" in Figure'12;

ton-hold tthisissi'de'xof the blade from 1 penetrating intozthei-peeled portion" of the vegetable; Also,

thezblade'is'slightly arcuatezand that the head" 1 6 is relatively thick; thetaper to the-upwardly directed:.cutting edge 18 :isslightly curved and the space '19 is providedz..to;:-permit peelings topassi From the foregoing-it is believed. that the:-operation and advantages oiitmy inventionwillbe apparent, but emphasisis laid upon the-fact that interpretation of its scope Sh0llld,OIlly be con-,

clusivewhen madein the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A vegetable peeling machine, comprising a; frame, a threaded shaft, means for rotatably and oscillatively mounting the shaft on the frame,

means for rotating the shaft, means for oscillating the shaft, a rotatable slidably mounted means for supporting a vegetable, means connected with the means for rotating the shaft for actuating the vegetable supporting means, means for sliding the vegetable supporting means to release a vegetable, a carriage slidably mounted on the frame and having a traveler engaging the shaft in one of its positions, a cutter on said carriage contacting a Vegetable on the rotatable supporting means, automatic means actuated by the carriage for tilting the shaft to break the connection to the vegetable supporting means and release the traveler, and means for returning the carriage to its start- 1119; position. I

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein the carriage has mounted thereon a sliding rod, a spring urging the rod forward, means for limiting the forward movement of the rod, said rod 2 carrying the cutter at its forward edge, and said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS in the Number Name Date 1,008,555 Mower Nov. 14, 1911 1,399,858 Gabrio Dec. 13, 1921 1,445,147 Kohler Feb. 13, 1923 1,579,771 Kools Apr. 6, 1926 

